Adjustable v-belt pulley



Aug. 30, 1949.

Filed Dec. 30, 1947 D. B. CARLSON ADJUSTABLE V-BELT PULLEY 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented in. 30, 1949 ADJUSTABLE V-BELT PULLEY Dwight B. Carlson, RapidsCity, 111., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporationof New Jersey Application December 30, 1947-, Serial No. 794,763

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a new and improved adjustable V-belt pulleyand has for one of its principal objects the provision of means foradjustably spacing the side walls to effect a change in the pitchdiameter of the belt.

An important object of this invention is to provide a V-belt pulleycapable of accommodating a V-belt pulley throughout a range of lengthsand means therein for securing a similar tension on each of the variouslength belts.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an adjustableV-belt pulley having means for adjustably fixing the spacing of thepulley side walls and separate means for effecting locking between thepulley sections to impart concurrent rotational drive therethrough.

A further important object of this invention is to provide aneconomically constructed V-belt pulley provided with means for quicklyand easily changing the spacing of the pulley side walls sections andlocking the pulley in adjusted position without hindering the driving ofthe pulley.

Other and further important objects of this invention will becomeapparent from the disclosures in the following specification andaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the adjustable V-belt pulley ofthis invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the pulley as shown in Figure 1 and taken onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1.

' Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the pulley taken on the line3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken on the line l-tl ofFigure 2.

As shown in the drawings, the reference numerai it indicates generally ashaft on which the adjustable V-belt pulley of this invention ismounted. The shaft ill is provided with a keyway slot l which as shownin Figures 2, 3 and 4 accommodates an elongated tapered key |2. The keyi2 is provided with a head l3 at one end thereof for handling ininserting and removing the key from its position in the shaft if. A hubit is mounted on the shaft in and is provided with an internal taperingkeyway slot I 5 for reception of the radial extension of the tapered keyM. The key M thus maintains the hub l4 fixed with respect to the shaftin and therefore rotation of the shaft imparts rotation to the hub.

The V-belt pulley of this invention includes cooperative and opposedside wall sections it and H. These sections are adjustably moved towardand away from each other to provide for variable pulley sizes. In thespacing of the sections 2 l6 and H as shown in Figure 1, a V-belt |8would ride in the innermost position of the pulley whereas, if thesections it and I! were brought together, the pulley would ride at someradially outward position depending on the particular spacing of theside walls l6 and I1.

As shown in Figure 4 the pulley section It is provided with a hubportion l9 which slidably engages the shaft hub it. The hub lt-isprovided with an annular groove 2|) for the reception of an end holdingplate 2|. This plate 2|, as shown in Figure 2, is divided into twoportions, 22 and 23, and when placed together have a circular opening 26at the juncture of their adjoining edges 25 and 25. The circular innerportion 2 1 engages the annular groove 20 of the hub it and the platesections 22 and 23 are bolted to the hub it of the pulley section it bymeans of bolts Ti and 28, which as shown in Figure 4 have heads 29 and3B and nuts 3| and 32 along with split lock washers 33 and it. The heads29 and 3b are countersunk in the inner surface of the pulley section itand the nuts and lock washers are drawn up on the outside of the endholding plate sections 22 and 23. The pulley section it is thus heldimmovable against longitudinal shifting on the hub it and thus is alsoimmovable longitudinally on the shaft ill by means of the taper key H2.

The pulley section it is further connected to the shaft hub i l by meansof key members 35 and it which are diametrically opposed and whichengage grooves or slots 3i and 38 in the hub M and alined internalgrooves or keyways 39 and in the pulley section hub it. The keys 35 and36 have one end abutting the end holding plate 2| preventing them fromlateral shifting in one direction.

The pulley section H is equipped with a hub ll which corresponds'to thehub IQ of the pulley section it. The hub M slides over the shaft hub l4and is laterally adjustable thereover. Bolts 42 and 43 pass transverselythrough the hubs l9 and 4| and the spacing of the pulley sections it andI1 is accomplished by adjustably moving the nuts 44 and 45 along theirrespective bolts 42 and 43. The bolts 42 and 43 have heads 46 and 47carried against the outer face of the end holding plate 2|. Lock washers4B and 49 tend to prevent the nuts 44 and 45 from becoming loose afterthey are initially set for the desired spacing the pulley sections Itand I7.

Keys 5|! and 5| are slida-bly mounted in the keyway slots 31 and 38 inthe hub M in the same manner as keys 35 and 36. The hub 4| is similarlyprovided with opposing internal keyway slots 52 and 53 and thus thepulley section rotates simultaneously with the shaft l0, hub l4, andpulley section i8.

The bolts 42 and 43 have lateral extensions 54 and 55 extending beyondthe adjusting nuts 44 and 45. The extensions 54 and 55 carry platemembers 56 and 51 respectively. Nuts 58 and 59 threadedly engage theextensions 54 and 55 and abut the outer ends or sides of the plate orbracket members 55 and 51 and thus confine the plates to a positionbetween the nuts 44 and 58 and 45 and 59. The inward extensions of theplates .56 and 51 toward the shaft ||l engage notches 60 and BI in thekeys 50 and respectively. Lateral shifting of the plates 56 and 51 thuseiIects a corresponding lateral shifting of 'the key members 50 and 5|.

The keys and 36 have inclined end portions 62 and 63 for wedgingengagement with similarly but oppositely inclined ends 64 and B5 of thekey members 50 and 5|. It has previously been stated that the keymembers 35 and 36 are prevented from lateral shifting in one directionbecause of the endplate 2|. Movement of the keys 50 and 5| inwardlytoward the pulley ections causes a wedging action to occur between theinclined ends 62 and 64, and 63 and 65. The wedging of the keys causesrotational drive without any lost motion from the shaft ill to bothpulley sections l6 and I1.

After the requirements for the spacing of the pulley sections l6 and I!have been determined the device is operated in the following manner. Thenuts 58 and 59 are loosened, thus withdrawing the keys 50 and 5| topermit lateral slidin movement of the pulley section II. Should it bedesired to move the pulley section I! away from the pulley section ISthe nuts 44 and would also have to be loosened. However, in the positionas shown in Figure 1, the pulley section I! is in substantially itsmaximum separated position from the pulley section [5 and thus a changein spacing would normally be in an inward direction. Assume, forexample, we wish to move the section fully inwardly so that the hubs l9and 4| of the pulley sections abut at their inner ends. A V-beltsuch asI8 and having a corresponding cross section would thus ride in thepulley at substantially the outer periphery thereof. In-order'toreposition the pulley section H, the nuts 44 and 45 would be drawn up onthe threaded shanks of the bolts 42 and 43 until the lock washers 48 and49 were drawn up tightly against the outer face of the hub 4|. The nuts58 and 59 are then retightened and the keys 35 and 50, and 36 and 5|wedge, whereupon drive is imparted from the shaft ||l to the pulleysections it and I1 through the keys 35-50 and 365| without imparting anytorsional strain on the spacing adjusting-bolts 42 and 43.

The pulley of this invention is adapted for use in variable speedarrangements wherein it is desired to change the pitch diameter of thepulley. As a rule two such adjustable pulleys are used at opposite endsof a V-belt whereby upon adjustment of both-pulleys simultaneously andoppositely the length of the belt remains constant but the driving ratiobetween the two pulleys is changed.

Numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide rangewithout departing from the principles disclosed herein and I thereforedo not propose limiting the patent ranted thereon otherwise than asnecessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable V-belt pulley comprising a relatively wide cylindricalhub having an annular groove adjacent one end, a first pulley sectionhaving a hub axially secured on said cylindrical hub, a two piece platehaving an internal circular opening of a diameter substantially equal tothe internal diameter of the annular groove in the cylindrical hub, saidtwo piece plate positioned around said cylindrical hub and within theannular groove, bolt means for attaching the first pulley section toboth parts of the two piece plate, key means for attaching said firstpulley section to the cylindrical hub for joint rotation, a secondpulley section having a hub slidable on said cylindrical hub, key meansfor attaching said second pulley section to the cylindrical hub forjoint rotation, both of said key means having oppositely inclined innerends and arranged to abut each other, and means for forcing the lastrecited key means longitudinally against the first recited key meanswhereby the key means wedge and hold the pulley sections in fixedposition.

2. An adjustable V-belt pulley comprising a relatively wide cylindricalhub having an annular groove adjacent one end, a first pulley sectionhaving a hub axially secured on said cylindrical hub, a two-piece platehaving an internal circular opening of a diameter substantially equal tothe internal diameter of the annular groove in the cylindrical hub, saidtwo piece plate positioned around said cylindrical hub and within theannular groove, bolt means for attaching the first pulley section toboth parts of the two piece plate, key means for attaching said firstpulley section to the cylindrical hub for joint rotation, a secondpulley section having a hub slidable on said cylindrical hub, key meansfor attaching said second pulley section to the cylindrical hub forjoint rotation, both of said key means having oppositely inclined innerends and arranged to abut each other, and means for forcing the 3. Anadjustable V-belt pulley comprising a relatively wide cylindrical hubhaving an annular groove adjacent one end. a first pulley section havinga hub axially secured on said cylindrical hub, a two piece plate havingan internal circular opening of a diameter substantially equal to theinternal diameter of the annular groove in the cylindrical hub, said twopiece plate positioned around said cylindrical hub and within theannular groove, bolt means for attaching the first pulley section toboth parts of the two piece plate, key means for attaching said firstpulley section to the cylindrical hub for joint rotation, a secondpulley section having a hub slidable on said cylindrical hub, key meansfor attaching said second pulley section to the cylindrical hub forjoint rotation, both of said key means having oppositely inclined innerends and arranged to abut each other, and means for forcing the lastrecited key means longitudinally against the first recited key meanswhereby the key means 'wedge and hold the pulley sections in fixedposition, and bolt means passing trans- 4. An adjustable V-belt pulleycomprising a 10 cylindrical hub, a first pulley section having a hubmounted over and around said cylindrical hub, stop means on one end ofsaid cylindrical hub limiting axial movement of said hub in onedirection, key means for attaching said first 15 Number pulley sectionand hub to the cylindrical hub for joint rotation, a. second pulleysection having a hub slidable on said cylindrical hub opposite said stopmeans, key means for attaching said second 6 pulley section to thecylindrical hub for joint rotation, both of said key means havingoppositely inclined inner ends and arranged to abut each other, andmeans for forcing the last recited key means longitudinally against thefirst recited key means whereby the key means wedge andv hold the pulleysections in fixed position.

DWIGHT B. CARLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: t

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,740,087 Hall Dec. 17, 1929 2,135,467Metz Nov. 1, 1938 2,209,737 Livingston July 30, 1940 2,434,018 StepanofiJan. 6, 1948

